Impact of Reconstruction on Florida and Jacksonville

Introduction to Jacksonville's History

• Focus on the importance of African American history in Jacksonville.

• Encourage students to see local history as interconnected with national events.

• Understanding local historic sites related to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

• Suggestion to explore The Jackson, a local history magazine.

Reconstruction Era Overview

• Reconstruction was a period of hope for newly freed African Americans.

• Despite initial advancements, many promises were retracted post-1877.

• Reconstruction Amendments:

  • 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime.

  • 14th Amendment: Granted citizenship rights to African Americans, known as the Civil Rights Amendment.

  • 15th Amendment: Granted black men the right to vote.

• Frederick Douglass emphasized the significance of these amendments for black citizenship and enfranchisement.

Goals of Freed People

• Freed people aimed for:

  • Land Ownership: Desire for economic independence.

  • Education Access: Overcoming high illiteracy rates; necessity for overall advancement.

  • Political Participation: Inclusion in decisions affecting their lives.

Key Questions for Context

• What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

• Can you name any Civil War battles?

• Did Florida participate in the Civil War?

• Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in rebellious states but not in border states.

• Provided for the formation of US Colored Troops.

Civil War and Florida's Role

• Florida's capital, Tallahassee, was never captured by Union forces.

• Contributed over 5,000 soldiers to the Confederate cause.

• Significant Battles:

  • Battle of Olustee: Largest battle in Florida, second bloodiest overall, notable for high casualty rates among US Colored Troops.

• Jacksonville was an occupied port city, undergoing significant military activity.

Jacksonville in the Civil War

• Notable figures such as Isaiah Hart, founder of Jacksonville and slaveholder.

• Jacksonville's occupation by Union troops; historical significance of Fort Hatch.

• The shifting control of Jacksonville between Confederate and Union forces.

Historical Significance of the Battle of Olustee

• Key points of significance:

  • Second bloodiest battle — high Union casualties.

  • US Colored Troops fought valiantly; faced severe consequences.

  • Confederate victory; implications for war dynamics in Florida.

  • Became Florida's first state park in 1909 to commemorate the event.

Changes in Monuments and Memory

• Removal of Confederate statues and monuments in Jacksonville (e.g., James Weldon Johnson Park, Springfield Park).

• Importance of local activism in reshaping historical narratives.

Historic Sites in Jacksonville

• Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park: Site where US Colored Troops were stationed.

• Camp Milton: Former Confederate stronghold and current recreational site.

Establishing Free Black Communities

• Emergence of free black communities post-Civil War.

• LaVilla: Established in 1866; a hub for African American culture and diverse immigrant populations.

• LaVilla's historical significance as the "Harlem of the South" during the Harlem Renaissance.

Gullah Geechee Heritage

• Gullah Geechee people: descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans.

• Preservation of cultural practices and contributions to Southern culture.

• Kinglsey Plantation: Historic site linking to Gullah Geechee history.

Land Redistribution Failures

• General Sherman's Field Order 15 promised land but later revoked by President Johnson.

• Limited success of the Southern Homestead Act of 1866; systemic barriers to land ownership persisted.

Educational Advancements

• Freedmen's Bureau: Established schools benefiting all races post-Civil War.

• Edward Waters University: First black college in Florida, established in Jacksonville in 1866.

• Role of black churches as community support and educational centers.

Political Engagement Post-Reconstruction

• Importance of creating a biracial democracy in Florida.

• Key Political Figures:

  • Jonathan Gibbs: First black Secretary of State.

  • Josiah T. Walls: Florida's first black congressman.

• Brief period of political achievements for African Americans post-Civil War.

Conclusion

• Understanding failures and triumphs of Reconstruction helps contextualize Jacksonville's ongoing history.

• Encouragement to engage with local history and its lasting impacts.